Specialist Sectors

Construction and development

Helping to build your future

Few would dispute the crucial importance of the construction industry to the UK economy. The construction solicitor team at Prettys provides expert advice to this sector. Our construction lawyers have extensive knowledge of legal issues affecting this type of business.

From our homes and workplaces to the roads and railways that transport us, it is the construction sector that is a key facilitator and illustrator of growth whilst employing approximately 10% of the UK workforce and contributing almost £90 billion yearly to the UK economy.

From multiple reliable sources we now hear tales of the industry’s resurgence, with some even going so far as to warn that construction demand will rocket if the positive mood continues.

As work picks up and the green shoots of recovery establish themselves, give us the opportunity to show you what a trusted and valuable adviser we can be for your business.

For clients with international dealings, we have the experience and overseas connections to help you. Prettys is also a member of Galexy the international association of lawyers.

"Key figures at Prettys include associate Rebecca Palmer, who is ‘outstanding – professional, informative and exceptionally competent’, and litigator Peter Blake, who is recommended for his ‘balanced and realistic advice’."

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Peter Blake

Peter Blake

"litigator Peter Blake, ... is recommended for his ‘balanced and realistic advice’"

Legal 500 2016

Peter joined Prettys in 1987, becoming a partner in 1991. He is an experienced construction lawyer with a bias towards contentious work. Peter has experience of advising on and drafting documentation on major projects and dispute resolution through negotiation, litigation, arbitration, adjudication and several forms of ADR.

Peter is involved in a number of industry groupings including Forum for the Built Environment, Interact (Suffolk branch) and sits on the Contractors’ Legal Group. Peter is a regular speaker on construction related topics to clients, invited and public audiences.

Recent work includes:

final account disputes – values from £100,000 to upwards of £1 million – litigation, adjudication, ADR;

several substantial claims by employers and contractors against construction professionals;

procurement advice to a contracting authority in relation to the establishment of a framework;

advising a contractor on several high value claims and in the context of a business restructuring;

instructed on claims for misrepresentation and/or breaches of contract arising from a development; and

building defects claims arising from defective design, materials and workmanship.

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Ian Seeley

Ian Seeley

Ian studied at Nottingham University and the College of Law, London, before qualifying as a solicitor in 1996. He worked in-house for a police force and two local authorities before joining Prettys in 2007. He was made an associate in 2008.

An experienced Construction lawyer, Ian advises main contractors, sub-contractors, employers and consultants in all aspects of construction disputes, from giving early intervention advice to prevent problems developing; through to resolving disputes via negotiation, mediation, expert determination, adjudication and litigation.

Ian also advises and represents clients in regulatory crime matters, including health and safety and environmental law investigations. Ian also advises public sector bodies and contractors on the application and interpretation of EU procurement rules and the Public Contracts Regulations 2006.

Ian's recent cases include:

representing numerous contractor clients in the adjudication of building disputes with values ranging from £20,000 to £500,000 +;

representing a main contractor in a 3-party expert determination;

resolving a long-running construction dispute through a successful referral to mediation;

vetting and advising on public procurement documentation for various London-based public sector bodies; and

representing two main contractors in regulatory investigations carried out by Natural England and the Environment Agency.

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Rebecca Palmer

Rebecca Palmer

"outstanding – professional, informative and exceptionally competent"

Legal 500 2016

A specialist in non-contentious commercial construction law, Rebecca's practice includes advising clients from all sectors of the industry on procurement strategy and implementation, project management and the drafting and negotiation of standard form and bespoke construction contracts including building/engineering contracts, professional appointments, collateral warranties, bonds/guarantees, framework agreements, development and funding agreements and all related documentation.

Rebecca studied at Leeds University and BPP Law School (London) before qualifying as a solicitor in 2006. She joined Prettys in 2013 from the market-leading construction practice at BLP in London where she had trained and qualified.

Rebecca’s most recent work includes advising:

Developers

an AIM listed PLC concerning terms and conditions and bank security documentation relating to its delivery of high quality mixed tenure developments of new London homes

drafting and negotiation of the suite of construction documentation used by the developer (its funder and tenants including the NHS, a national retailer and a dental practice) concerning a state of the art mixed use development in Hertfordshire

negotiating the EPC contract for a £5million solar farm

Contractors

a regional housebuilder by drafting its framework agreement for use with subcontractors

a major contractor concerning its multi-million pound refurbishment/extension projects on the South coast

negotiating an overhead line maintenance contractor’s framework agreement with a national power distribution network operator

numerous main contractors regarding its contract terms with its supply chain

Subcontractors

including regarding the proposed bespoke contract documentation in respect of a £2.4million subcontract package of mechanical works for a substantial residential development project in central London

Consultants

including practices based in central London and East Anglia concerning their terms of engagement with clients and subconsultants.

Tenants

including an international retailer regarding the redevelopment and leasing of its retail outlets (including those within major town centre regeneration projects).

Lenders

prior to their provision of development finance.

Rebecca speaks regularly at Prettys' "Developers' Club" and "Business Academy" seminars. She writes frequently for "Construct", the monthly newsletter produced by Prettys' construction and development team, and she often delivers tailored training on specialist legal topics and their practical application to both client personnel and industry groups (including the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the National Federation Builders).